Dictionary.com
definitions

inviting

[in-vahy-ting]
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR inviting ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

attractive, alluring, or tempting: an inviting offer.

Origin of inviting

First recorded in 1580–90; invite + -ing2
Related formsin·vit·ing·ly, adverbin·vit·ing·ness, noun

invite

[verb in-vahyt; noun in-vahyt]

verb (used with object), in·vit·ed, in·vit·ing.

to request the presence or participation of in a kindly, courteous, or complimentary way, especially to request to come or go to some place, gathering, entertainment, etc., or to do something: to invite friends to dinner.
to request politely or formally: to invite donations.
to act so as to bring on or render probable: to invite accidents by fast driving.
to call forth or give occasion for: Those big shoes invite laughter.
to attract, allure, entice, or tempt.

verb (used without object), in·vit·ed, in·vit·ing.

to give invitation; offer attractions or allurements.

noun

Informal. an invitation.

Origin of invite

First recorded in 1525–35, invite is from the Latin word invītāre
Related formsin·vi·tee [in-vi-tee, -vahy-] /ˌɪn vɪˈti, -vaɪ-/, nounin·vit·er, in·vi·tor, nounpre·in·vite, verb (used with object), pre·in·vit·ed, pre·in·vit·ing.qua·si-in·vit·ed, adjectivere·in·vite, verb, re·in·vit·ed, re·in·vit·ing.self-in·vit·ed, adjectiveun·in·vit·ed, adjective

Synonyms for invite

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR invite ON THESAURUS.COM
1. bid. 2. solicit. 5. lure, draw.

Synonym study

1. See call.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for inviting

enticing, intriguing, seductive, welcoming, fascinating, persuasive, encouraging, charming, engaging, appealing, attractive, tempting, delightful, pleasing, beguiling, warm, open, bewitching, winning, agreeable

Examples from the Web for inviting

Contemporary Examples of inviting

Historical Examples of inviting

  • It was the marshal calling to them that Andrew was gone and inviting them in to finish him.

  • There was self-assertion, but not of the antagonistic—solely of the inviting sort.

    Weighed and Wanting

    George MacDonald

  • Beyond Schwitter's the highroad stretched, broad and inviting, across the State.

    K

    Mary Roberts Rinehart

  • I knew that she was inviting me to follow her, but I refused to move.

    Green Mansions

    W. H. Hudson

  • He bent forward a little, with the air of inviting a confidence.

    Tiverton Tales

    Alice Brown

British Dictionary definitions for inviting

inviting

adjective

tempting; alluring; attractive
Derived Formsinvitingly, adverbinvitingness, noun

invite

verb (ɪnˈvaɪt) (tr)

to ask (a person or persons) in a friendly or polite way (to do something, attend an event, etc)he invited them to dinner
to make a request for, esp publicly or formallyto invite applications
to bring on or provoke; give occasion foryou invite disaster by your actions
to welcome or tempt

noun (ˈɪnvaɪt)

an informal word for invitation
Derived Formsinviter, noun

Word Origin for invite

C16: from Latin invītāre to invite, entertain, from in- ² + -vītāre, probably related to Greek hiesthai to be desirous of
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for inviting
adj.

"attractive, alluring," c.1600, from present participle of invite (v.).

invite

v.

1530s, a back-formation from invitation, or else from Middle French inviter (5c.), from Latin invitare. As a noun variant of invitation it is attested from 1650s. Related: Invited; inviting.

invite

n.

1650s, from invite (v.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper